Camel Tank- F650/700/800GS

Time to pull the curtain back on a project I have been working on for a while.

I love my F800 and have since I bought it. My only real complaint is the fuel range of the stock bike. I tried a few extra fuel options. All had their pluses and minuses. Ultimately, I wasn't totally happy with the options available.

I started plotting and planning a couple years ago with these needs in mind:

-hold roughly 2 gallons
-not interfere with a top box or duffle bag
-work with hard panniers and racks
-not require a fuel pump for transfer

I'm sure some of you figured out what was going on with these threads:

I imagine it's sturdy enough to have a GL Great Basin sit against it or the new Siskiyous?

Dave

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It's gone through several revisions, in fact it started with me sitting on a milk crate, carving up a chunk of rigid styrofoam with a bread knife. It's been a fun project.

Which racks work and which ones don't... I tried it on as many systems as I could and tweaked the shape accordingly.

Fit's for sure:
-BMW aluminum Adventure cases. The notch in the side of the tank is to clear the cam lock.
-TouraTech Zega
-Touratech Zega Special (with a new rear support bar)
-Giant Loop Great Basin
-Giant Loop Siskiyou

I've been in on the secret for some time as one of the test fitters Cory has used. Gotta give him credit for a ton of work he's done to get this tank designed and ready to manufacture; the few others that hinted at this type of tank in the works have not had the determination to get anywhere near this far in the process. This is something that has been long overdue for the F twin GSs. I'll be at the front of the line to get mine.

We looked long at hard at the Jesse's cases as they are so popular. The good and bad is that they did an excellent job of tucking the racks and bag tight to the bike. Great for over all width but not so good for getting a tank in there. By the time we shaved, notched and clearanced things we were left with barely a gallon and a very unattractive looking unit.

I've got HB racks for my Pelicans. The project started out fitting that style of rack. The issue is that the front mounting location for the rack is the ideal location for the tank as well. We tried a few options of piggy backing the mounts to fit both the tank and the rack but it was less than appealing for one reason or another. Also by extending the tank forward, we gained a half gallon over the original design.

That been said, if there were enough people interested and willing to commit, we could modify the front third of the tank in the program (require new mold of course $$$) to stop short of the front mounting location which would allow several other systems to be used (at 25% or so reduced volume). It's something we can look into more later if the interest is there.

That is genious!
as long as I don't have to put a hole through my tank and as long as I can remove it when I want to I'll get one definitely!

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There is no drilling of the stock tank. There are two 7/16" holes that get drilled (in inconspicuous places). One is for the fuel supply and one is for the vent line. We are sourcing small plastic filler caps that snap in to the holes should the tank be removed.

I've been in on the secret for some time as one of the test fitters Cory has used. Gotta give him credit for a ton of work he's done to get this tank designed and ready to manufacture; the few others that hinted at this type of tank in the works have not had the determination to get anywhere near this far in the process. This is something that has been long overdue for the F twin GSs. I'll be at the front of the line to get mine.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the help Ed! It was great to be able to test the various versions out on your bike. No need to get in line for a tank, the second one out of the mold has your name on it! (you didn't think I'd give up the first one did you?!)

Now you have my attention! For $1000, I'll just go buy a red can and a strap. For $500 I can get a well planned and thought out setup that can be reversed, looks OEM and I don't have to pay extra to get it painted a matching colour. No fork spring change either!

Since there are dozens of pannier systems out there it's tough to say what will and won't fit without actually trying it. However, we can probably get good list of "maybes" and "definitely nots" if inmates can post pics of their rack systems.

It's gone through several revisions, in fact it started with me sitting on a milk crate, carving up a chunk of rigid styrofoam with a bread knife. It's been a fun project.

Which racks work and which ones don't... I tried it on as many systems as I could and tweaked the shape accordingly.

Fit's for sure:
-BMW aluminum Adventure cases. The notch in the side of the tank is to clear the cam lock.
-TouraTech Zega
-Touratech Zega Special (with a new rear support bar)
-Giant Loop Great Basin
-Giant Loop Siskiyou

It's gone through several revisions, in fact it started with me sitting on a milk crate, carving up a chunk of rigid styrofoam with a bread knife. It's been a fun project.

Which racks work and which ones don't... I tried it on as many systems as I could and tweaked the shape accordingly.

Fit's for sure:
-BMW aluminum Adventure cases. The notch in the side of the tank is to clear the cam lock.
-TouraTech Zega
-Touratech Zega Special (with a new rear support bar)
-Giant Loop Great Basin
-Giant Loop Siskiyou

Looks fantastic, Oso. I really like that it keeps the weight down low.

But having gone with Caribous and Wolfman bags hanging on SW-Motech racks, I can't justify making a switch now. If you do come up with a modified version, I'd be very interested if A) the tank still holds at least 1.5 gals. and B) the price is comparable (or even lower!)